Two French pilots died this Wednesday when their model planes Rafale collided in mid-air in northeastern France, the president said Emmanuel Macronin a rare accident between high-tech military aircraft.
“We learned with sadness of the death of Captain Sebastien Mabire and the lieutenant Matthis Laurens in an air crash during a Rafale training mission,” Macron posted on X.
“The country shares the pain of their families and brothers in arms from the 113th Air Base in Saint-Dizier,” in eastern France, he added.
The pilot of one of the two aircraft managed to eject and was saved, the Minister of Defense previously indicated in X, Sebastien Lecornu.
It was not initially clear what would have caused the collision over Colombey-les-Belles, in the Northeast France.
The Air Force said all the pilots involved were of French nationality.
Supersonic aircraft
The multipurpose supersonic aircraft Rafale, used to hunt enemy aircraft, Attacking land and sea targets, carrying out reconnaissance missions and even carrying nuclear warheads, it has been a best-seller for the French arms industry.
Ukrainian pilots are currently trained in France, but at the Cazaux base (southwest) and with model aircraft Alpha Jet.